The other day I was talking with someone about our current oil situation and this person, in response to one of my points, said, “Well your just a dyed in wool republican.” Now, I realize that one way to avoid addressing a topic is to call someone a name. That serves to temporarily take one off point as they now have to respond to the name calling. Don’t get me wrong, there are far worse things to be called than a republican. In fact, if you look at my voting record and my party affiliation, I am a republican. But my immediate response was to say, “I’m a conservative who chooses to be a republican because until recently, the Republican Party was the party of conservatism.” (that’s another topic for another day.)
So this got me thinking, well with all the labels out there today, democrat, libertarian, republican, liberal, leftist, right winger, neocon, conservative, pro this, pro that, anti this, anti that, how would you know if you were a conservative? I’ll bet there are many out there that have conservative views but don’t want to call themselves one because they have been told conservatives are “mean spirited.” Take a look at the following characteristics. You may be surprised to find that you are actually a conservative and that to have conservative views doesn’t make you a bad person. Conservatives believe:
- Freedom is God given, for all Americans, and is key to our existence as a nation.
- The size and cost of government is out of control and must be reduced.
- The tax code is oppressive, targeting wage earners with burdensome taxes. The tax code must be reformed and taxes must be reduced so working Americans can get ahead.
- Government should get out of the peoples’ way so they can become all they want to be.
- America must maintain a strong, ready, and well equipped military to defend our freedom at home and abroad.
- Our boarders must be secured and people who have broken our laws by entering illegally must be deported.
- English must be made our official language. This defines our American culture.
- Our government should be promoting business and economic growth, not choking our economy with burdensome regulations and taxes.
- Judges must not be allowed to silence the voice of the people by overturning the laws our elected officials pass.
- Elected officials must be held accountable. This fixes number 9 above.
